FIFA SITE IN QUESTION

The likelihood of an American invasion of Iraq has thrust a giant question mark onto the feasibility of playing the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates next month, particularly since the United States is one of the 24 teams booked for the 20-day event.

While the concern centers generally around whether it will be safe to play the Under-20 tournament close to a war zone, the bigger concern is whether the U.S. team would become a target of hostilities in the Islamic UAE. The small country is about 1,000 miles south of Baghdad, and is bordered by Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Persian Gulf.

There's talk of moving the tournament to Japan or Spain, but UAE soccer officials are resisting those efforts after making a massive investment to host the biennial championship. The UAE has suggested possibly postponing the event for a year, but that's not practical because today's U-20s are next year's U-21s.

If the tournament is held as planned from March 25-April 15, the U.S. may be left with two choices: play and hope they don't get caught in the geo-political crossfire, or withdraw and stay home.

"We're preparing to play Paraguay on the 27th," U.S. Under-20s coach Thomas Rongen said Friday at the Sunrise Hilton, where the team is training. "Until we hear differently, that's the attitude we're taking."

A war in Iraq also could force officials in Turkey to suspend Turkish Super League play. Turkey borders Iraq to the north and fears that a U.S. invasion will create a migration of Kurds living in northern Iraq across the border. The United States also is trying to launch attacks out of southern Turkey, near at least four Super League cities.

Meanwhile, the head of Japan's soccer federation said that two international friendlies in the United States in March will be canceled regardless of whether a U.S.-led coalition goes to war in Iraq.

"Even if no war breaks out, there is no telling how things will turn out," chairman Saburo Kawabuchi told reporters Saturday.

Iraq's national team coach Bernard Stange has already made his decision regarding the coming conflict. He said on Thursday that he planned to leave the country and return to Germany. He wrote a letter to his players that read, "I pray to God that he guards you and your family."

SPOT KICKS

Two milestones were reached during Wednesday's schedule of friendlies in Europe. Spain striker Raul scored twice in a 3-1 win over Germany to become the all-time leading scorer for his country with 31 goals. In London, Wayne Rooney, 17, became the youngest player to represent England when entered as a second half sub in a 3-1 loss to Australia.

UEFA Champions League resumes play this week, giving Spain's Barcelona and Germany's Bayer Leverkusen a chance to play in a tournament they still have a chance of winning. Both were semifinalists in last season's Champions League, but each has dropped near the relegation zone in their respective domestic leagues this season.

Barcelona, which is 10-0-0 in the Champions League but 15th with a 6-9-6 in Spain's La Liga, hosts Inter Milan on Tuesday. Leverkusen, losers of three straight after returning from a mid-winter training camp in Naples and Miami, will host Newcastle. ...

Efforts to build a 25,000-seat, $60 million soccer stadium in Harrison, N.J., for the MetrosStars has been revived after being rejected by city and state officials late last year. The target date for breaking ground is December for a June 2005 opening.

The Chicago Fire opened its preseason with a 2-1 loss to the United States U-17 team, with 13-year-old Freddy Adu scoring both goals for the winners. Adu, who was born in Ghana, but moved to the U.S. when he was 9, was to receive his citizenship papers Thursday, making him eligible to play internationally.

The Colorado Rapids begin a 16-day training stay at Florida Atlantic University on Tuesday. D.C. United concludes a 10-day session on Thursday at the Sunrise Hilton. The Columbus Crew is in Portugal, New England is in Brazil, while Los Angeles and San Jose are playing in an eight-team tournament in Spain. The Kansas City Wizards return today from a 12-day stay in South Africa.